DreamWorks
For the bulk of every Rocky and Bullwinkle episode, moose and squirrel would engage in high concept escapades that satirized geopolitics, contemporary cinema, and the very fabrics of the human condition. With all of that to work with, there's no excuse for why the pair and their Soviet nemeses haven't gotten a decent movie adaptation. But the ingenious Mr. Peabody and his faithful boy Sherman are another story, intercut between Rocky and Bullwinkle segments to teach kids brief history lessons and toss in a nearly lethal dose of puns. Their stories and relationship were much simpler, which means that bringing their shtick to the big screen would entail a lot more invention — always risky when you're dealing with precious material.
For the most part, Mr. Peabody &amp; Sherman handles the regeneration of its heroes aptly, allowing for emotionally substance in their unique father-son relationship and all the difficulties inherent therein. The story is no subtle metaphor for the difficulties surrounding gay adoption, with society decreeing that a dog, no matter how hyper-intelligent, cannot be a suitable father. The central plot has Peabody hosting a party for a disapproving child services agent and the parents of a young girl with whom 7-year-old Sherman had a schoolyard spat, all in order to prove himself a suitable dad. Of course, the WABAC comes into play when the tots take it for a spin, forcing Peabody to rush to their rescue.
Getting down to personals, we also see the left brain-heavy Peabody struggle with being father Sherman deserves. The bulk of the emotional marks are hit as we learn just how much Peabody cares for Sherman, and just how hard it has been to accept that his only family is growing up and changing.
DreamWorks
But more successful than the new is the film's handling of the old — the material that Peabody and Sherman purists will adore. They travel back in time via the WABAC Machine to Ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, and the Trojan War, and 18th Century France, explaining the cultural backdrop and historical significance of the settings and characters they happen upon, all with that irreverent (but no longer racist) flare that the old cartoons enjoyed. And oh... the puns.
Mr. Peabody &amp; Sherman is a f**king treasure trove of some of the most amazingly bad puns in recent cinema. This effort alone will leave you in awe.
The film does unravel in its final act, bringing the science-fiction of time travel a little too close to the forefront and dropping the ball on a good deal of its emotional groundwork. What seemed to be substantial building blocks do not pay off in the way we might, as scholars of animated family cinema, have anticipated, leaving the movie with an unfinished feeling.
But all in all, it's a bright, compassionate, reasonably educational, and occasionally funny if not altogether worthy tribute to an old favorite. And since we don't have our own WABAC machine to return to a time of regularly scheduled Peabody and Sherman cartoons, this will do okay for now.
If nothing else, it's worth your time for the puns.
3/5
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Everett Collection
The 2014 Sundance Film Festival lineup for the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary competition and the out-of-competition NEXT section is officially here, and damn are we excited.
As the festival has evolved and grown, so has the long list of actors and directors who have eagerly jumped on board to be a part of the indie film scene, which means that the lineup of actors for the upcoming event is looking pretty solid. In 2014 we can look forward to seeing the works of those like Glenn Close, Susan Sarandon, John Slattery, Aaron Paul, Kristen Stewart, and Mark Ruffalo, and comedians such as Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Lena Dunham, Jenny Slate, Aubrey Plaza, Amy Sedaris, and more.
The festival will run from Jan. 16 to 26 in Park City, Utah and will include 118 features. Still to come are the lineups for Slates for Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, New Frontier, Premieres and Documentary Premieres, and the new Sundance Kids category.
Check out the lineup so far (via Vulture):
DRAMATIC COMPETITION
Camp X-Ray / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Peter Sattler) — A young woman is stationed as a guard in Guantanamo Bay, where she forms an unlikely friendship with one of the detainees. Cast: Kristen Stewart, Payman Maadi, Lane Garrison, J.J. Soria, John Carroll Lynch.Cold in July / U.S.A. (Director: Jim Mickle, Screenwriters: Jim Mickle, Nick Damici) — After killing a home intruder, a small town Texas man's life unravels into a dark underworld of corruption and violence. Cast: Michael C. Hall, Don Johnson, Sam Shepard, Vinessa Shaw, Nick Damici, Wyatt Russell.Dear White People / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Justin Simien) — Four black students attend an Ivy League college where a riot breaks out over an “African American” themed party thrown by white students. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film explores racial identity in postracial America while weaving a story about forging one's unique path in the world. Cast: Tyler Williams, Tessa Thompson, Teyonah Parris, Brandon Bell.Fishing Without Nets / U.S.A., Somalia, Kenya (Director: Cutter Hodierne, Screenwriters: Cutter Hodierne, John Hibey, David Burkman) — A story of pirates in Somalia told from the perspective of a struggling, young Somali fisherman. Cast: Abdikani Muktar, Abdi Siad, Abduwhali Faarah, Abdikhadir Hassan, Reda Kateb, Idil Ibrahim.God's Pocket / U.S.A. (Director: John Slattery, Screenwriters: John Slattery, Alex Metcalf) — When Mickey's stepson Leon is killed in a construction "accident," Mickey tries to bury the bad news with the body. But when the boy's mother demands the truth, Mickey finds himself stuck between a body he can’t bury, a wife he can’t please, and a debt he can’t pay. Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Jenkins, Christina Hendricks, John Turturro.Happy Christmas / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Joe Swanberg) — After a breakup with her boyfriend, a young woman moves in with her older brother, his wife, and their 2-year-old son. Cast: Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, Mark Webber, Lena Dunham, Joe Swanberg.Hellion / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Kat Candler) — When motocross and heavy metal obsessed, 13-year-old Jacob's delinquent behavior forces CPS to place his little brother Wes with his aunt, Jacob and his emotionally absent father must finally take responsibility for their actions and each other in order to bring Wes home. Cast: Aaron Paul, Juliette Lewis, Josh Wiggins, Deke Garner, Jonny Mars, Walt Roberts.Infinitely Polar Bear / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Maya Forbes) — A manic-depressive mess of a father tries to win back his wife by attempting to take full responsibility of their two young, spirited daughters, who don't make the overwhelming task any easier. Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana, Imogene Wolodarsky, Ashley Aufderheide.Jamie Marks is Dead / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Carter Smith) — No one seemed to care about Jamie Marks until after his death. Hoping to find the love and friendship he never had in life, Jamie’s ghost visits former classmate Adam McCormick, drawing him into the bleak world between the living and the dead. Cast: Cameron Monaghan, Noah Silver, Morgan Saylor, Judy Greer, Madisen Beaty, Liv Tyler.Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter / U.S.A. (Director: David Zellner, Screenwriters: David Zellner, Nathan Zellner) — A lonely Japanese woman becomes convinced that a satchel of money buried in a fictional film is, in fact, real. Abandoning her structured life in Tokyo for the frozen Minnesota wilderness, she embarks on an impulsive quest to search for her lost mythical fortune. Cast: Rinko Kikuchi.Life After Beth / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Jeff Baena) — Zach is devastated by the unexpected death of his girlfriend, Beth. When she mysteriously returns, he gets a second chance at love. Soon his whole world turns upside down... Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Paul Reiser.Low Down / U.S.A. (Director: Jeff Preiss, Screenwriters: Amy Albany, Topper Lilien) — Based on Amy Jo Albany's memoir, Low Down explores her heart-wrenching journey to adulthood while being raised by her father, bebop pianist Joe Albany, as he teeters between incarceration and addiction in the urban decay and waning bohemia of Hollywood in the 1970s. Cast: John Hawkes, Elle Fanning, Glenn Close, Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Flea.The Skeleton Twins / U.S.A. (Director: Craig Johnson, Screenwriters: Craig Johnson, Mark Heyman) — Estranged twins Maggie and Milo coincidentally cheat death on the same day, prompting them to reunite and confront the reasons their lives went so wrong. As the twins' reunion reinvigorates them, they realize the key to fixing their lives may just lie in repairing their relationship. Cast: Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell, Boyd Holbrook, Joanna Gleason.The Sleepwalker / U.S.A., Norway (Director: Mona Fastvold, Screenwriters: Mona Fastvold, Brady Corbet) — A young couple, Kaia and Andrew, are renovating Kaia´s secluded family estate. Their lives are violently interrupted when unexpected guests arrive. The Sleepwalker chronicles the unraveling of the lives of four disparate characters as it transcends genre conventions and narrative contrivance to reveal something much more disturbing. Cast: Gitte Witt, Christopher Abbott, Brady Corbet, Stephanie Ellis.Song One / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Kate Barker-Froyland) — Estranged from her family, Franny returns home when an accident leaves her brother comatose. Retracing his life as an aspiring musician, she tracks down his favorite musician, James Forester. Against the backdrop of Brooklyn’s music scene, Franny and James develop an unexpected relationship and face the realities of their lives. Cast: Anne Hathaway, Johnny Flynn, Mary Steenburgen, Ben Rosenfield.Whiplash / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Damien Chazelle) — Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity. Cast: Miles Teller, JK Simmons.
NEXT
Appropriate Behavior / U.S.A., United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Desiree Akhavan) — Shirin is struggling to become an ideal Persian daughter, a politically correct bisexual, and a hip, young Brooklynite, but fails miserably in her attempt at all identities. Being without a cliché to hold on to can be a lonely experience. Cast: Desiree Akhavan, Rebecca Henderson, Halley Feiffer, Scott Adsit, Anh Duong, Arian Moayed. World Premiere.Drunktown's Finest / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Sydney Freeland) — Three young Native Americans—a rebellious father-to-be, a devout Christian woman, and a promiscuous transsexual—come of age on an Indian reservation. Cast: Jeremiah Bitsui, Carmen Moore, Morningstar Angeline, Kiowa Gordon, Shauna Baker, Elizabeth Francis. World Premiere.The Foxy Merkins / U.S.A. (Director: Madeleine Olnek, Screenwriters: Lisa Haas, Jackie Monahan, Madeleine Olnek) — Two lesbian hookers work the streets of New York. One is a down-on-her-luck newbie; the other is a beautiful—and straight—grifter who's an expert on picking up women. Together they face bargain-hunting housewives, double-dealing conservative women, and each other in this prostitute buddy comedy. Cast: Lisa Haas, Jackie Monahan, Alex Karpovsky, Susan Ziegler, Sally Sockwell, Deb Margolin.A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Ana Lily Amirpour) — In the Iranian ghost town Bad City, a place that reeks of death and loneliness, depraved denizens are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome vampire. Cast: Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Dominic Rains, Marshall Manesh, Mozhan Marnó, Milad Eghbali. World Premiere.Imperial Dreams / U.S.A. (Director: Malik Vitthal, Screenwriters: Malik Vitthal, Ismet Prcic) — A 21-year-old, reformed gangster's devotion to his family and his future are put to the test when he is released from prison and returns to his old stomping grounds in Watts, Los Angeles. Cast: John Boyega, Rotimi Akinosho, Glenn Plummer, Keke Palmer, De'aundre Bonds. World Premiere.Land Ho! / U.S.A., Iceland (Directors and screenwriters: Martha Stephens, Aaron Katz) — A pair of ex-brothers-in-law set off to Iceland in an attempt to reclaim their youth through Reykjavik nightclubs, trendy spas, and rugged campsites. This bawdy adventure is a throwback to 1980s road comedies, as well as a candid exploration of aging, loneliness, and friendship. Cast: Paul Eenhoorn, Earl Nelson, Alice Olivia Clarke, Karrie Krouse, Elizabeth McKee, Emmsjé Gauti. World Premiere.Listen Up Philip / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Alex Ross Perry) — A story about changing seasons and changing attitudes, a newly accomplished writer faces mistakes and miseries affecting those around him, including his girlfriend, her sister, his idol, his idol's daughter, and all the ex-girlfriends and enemies that lie in wait on the open streets of New York. Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Elisabeth Moss, Jonathan Pryce, Krysten Ritter, Josephine de La Baume. World Premiere.Memphis / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Tim Sutton) — A strange singer drifts through the mythic city of Memphis, surrounded by beautiful women, legendary musicians, a stone-cold hustler, a righteous preacher, and a wolf pack of kids. Under a canopy of ancient oak trees and burning spirituality, his doomed journey breaks from conformity and reaches out for glory. Cast: Willis Earl Beal, Lopaka Thomas, Constance Brantley, Devonte Hull, John Gary Williams, Larry Dodson. World Premiere.Obvious Child / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Gillian Robespierre) — An honest comedy about what happens when Brooklyn comedian Donna Stern gets dumped, fired, and pregnant, just in time for the worst/best Valentine's Day of her life. Cast: Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffmann, David Cross, Gabe Liedman, Richard Kind. World Premiere.Ping Pong Summer / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michael Tully) — 1985. Ocean City, Maryland. Summer vacation. Rap music. Parachute pants. Ping pong. First crushes. Best friends. Mean bullies. Weird mentors. That awkward, momentous time in your life when you're treated like an alien by everyone around you, even though you know deep down you're as funky fresh as it gets. Cast: Susan Sarandon, John Hannah, Lea Thompson, Amy Sedaris, Robert Longstreet, Marcello Conte. World Premiere.War Story / U.S.A. (Director: Mark Jackson, Screenwriters: Kristin Gore, Mark Jackson) — A war photographer retreats to a small town in Sicily after being held captive during the conflict in Libya. Cast: Catherine Keener, Hafsia Herzi, Vincenzo Amato, Donatella Finocchiaro, Ben Kingsley. World Premiere.
U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITIONAlive Inside: A Story of Music &amp; Memory / U.S.A. (Director: Michael Rossato-Bennett) — Five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease and dementia—many of them alone in nursing homes. A man with a simple idea discovers that songs embedded deep in memory can ease pain and awaken these fading minds. Joy and life are resuscitated, and our cultural fears over aging are confronted. All the Beautiful Things / U.S.A. (Director: John Harkrider) — John and Barron are lifelong friends whose friendship is tested when Barron's girlfriend says Barron put a knife to her throat and raped her. Not knowing she has lied, John tells her to go to the police. Years later, John and Barron meet in a bar to resolve the betrayal.CAPTIVATED The Trials of Pamela Smart / U.S.A., United Kingdom (Director: Jeremiah Zagar) — In an extraordinary and tragic American story, a small town murder becomes one of the highest profile cases of all time. From its historic role as the first televised trial to the many books and movies made about it, the film looks at the media’s enduring impact on the case. The Case Against 8 / U.S.A. (Directors: Ben Cotner, Ryan White) — A behind-the-scenes look inside the case to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. Shot over five years, the film follows the unlikely team that took the first federal marriage equality lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court.Cesar's Last Fast / U.S.A. (Directors: Richard Ray Perez, Lorena Parlee) — Inspired by Catholic social teaching, Cesar Chavez risked his life fighting for America’s poorest workers. The film illuminates the intensity of one man’s devotion and personal sacrifice, the birth of an economic justice movement, and tells an untold chapter in the story of civil rights in America. Dinosaur 13 / U.S.A. (Director: Todd Miller) — The true tale behind one of the greatest discoveries in history. Day One film.E-TEAM / U.S.A. (Directors: Katy Chevigny, Ross Kauffman) — E-TEAM is driven by the high-stakes investigative work of four intrepid human rights workers, offering a rare look at their lives at home and their dramatic work in the field. Fed Up / U.S.A. (Director: Stephanie Soechtig) — Fed Up blows the lid off everything we thought we knew about food and weight loss, revealing a 30-year campaign by the food industry, aided by the U.S. government, to mislead and confuse the American public, resulting in one of the largest health epidemics in history. The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz / U.S.A. (Director: Brian Knappenberger) — Programming prodigy and information activist Aaron Swartz achieved groundbreaking work in social justice and political organizing. His passion for open access ensnared him in a legal nightmare that ended with the taking of his own life at the age of 26. Ivory Tower / U.S.A. (Director: Andrew Rossi) — As tuition spirals upward and student debt passes a trillion dollars, students and parents ask, "Is college worth it?" From the halls of Harvard to public and private colleges in financial crisis to education startups in Silicon Valley, an urgent portrait emerges of a great American institution at the breaking point. Marmato / U.S.A. (Director: Mark Grieco) — Colombia is the center of a new global gold rush, and Marmato, a historic mining town, is the new frontier. Filmed over the course of nearly six years, Marmato chronicles how townspeople confront a Canadian mining company that wants the $20 billion in gold beneath their homes. No No: A Dockumentary / U.S.A. (Director: Jeffrey Radice) — Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter on LSD, then worked for decades counseling drug abusers. Dock's soulful style defined 1970s baseball as he kept hitters honest and embarrassed the establishment. An ensemble cast of teammates, friends, and family investigate his life on the field, in the media, and out of the spotlight. The Overnighters / U.S.A. (Director: Jesse Moss) — Desperate, broken men chase their dreams and run from their demons in the North Dakota oil fields. A local Pastor's decision to help them has extraordinary and unexpected consequences.Private Violence / U.S.A. (Director: Cynthia Hill) — One in four women experience violence in their homes. Have you ever asked, “Why doesn't she just leave?” Private Violence shatters the brutality of our logic and intimately reveals the stories of two women: Deanna Walters, who transforms from victim to survivor, and Kit Gruelle, who advocates for justice. Rich Hill / U.S.A. (Directors: Andrew Droz Palermo, Tracy Droz Tragos) — In a rural, American town, kids face heartbreaking choices, find comfort in the most fragile of family bonds, and dream of a future of possibility. Watchers of the Sky / U.S.A. (Director: Edet Belzberg) — Five interwoven stories of remarkable courage from Nuremberg to Rwanda, from Darfur to Syria, and from apathy to action. WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION
52 Tuesdays / Australia (Director: Sophie Hyde, Screenplay and story by: Matthew Cormack, Story by: Sophie Hyde) — Sixteen-year-old Billie’s reluctant path to independence is accelerated when her mother reveals plans for gender transition, and their time together becomes limited to Tuesdays. This emotionally charged story of desire, responsibility, and transformation was filmed over the course of a year—once a week, every week, only on Tuesdays. Cast: Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Del Herbert-Jane, Imogen Archer, Mario Späte, Beau Williams, Sam Althuizen. International Premiere.Blind / Norway, Netherlands (Director and screenwriter: Eskil Vogt) — Having recently lost her sight, Ingrid retreats to the safety of her home—a place she can feel in control, alone with her husband and her thoughts. But Ingrid's real problems lie within, not beyond the walls of her apartment, and her deepest fears and repressed fantasies soon take over. Cast: Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Henrik Rafaelsen, Vera Vitali, Marius Kolbenstvedt. World Premiere.Difret / Ethiopia (Director and screenwriter: Zeresenay Berhane Mehari) — Meaza Ashenafi is a young lawyer who operates under the government's radar helping women and children until one young girl's legal case exposes everything, threatening not only her career but her survival. Cast: Meron Getnet, Tizita Hagere. World Premiere.The Disobedient / Serbia (Director and screenwriter: Mina Djukic) — Leni anxiously waits for her childhood friend Lazar, who is coming back to their hometown after years of studying abroad. After they reunite, they embark on a random bicycle trip around their childhood haunts, which will either exhaust or reinvent their relationship. Cast: Hana Selimovic, Mladen Sovilj, Minja Subota, Danijel Sike, Ivan Djordjevic. World Premiere.God Help the Girl / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Stuart Murdoch) — This musical from Stuart Murdoch of Belle &amp; Sebastian is about some messed up boys and girls and the music they made. Cast: Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, Hannah Murray, Cora Bissett, Pierre Boulanger. World Premiere.Liar's Dice / India (Director and screenwriter: Geetu Mohandas) — Kamala, a young woman from the village of Chitkul, leaves her native land with her daughter to search for her missing husband. Along the journey, they encounter Nawazudin, a free-spirited army deserter with his own selfish motives who helps them reach their destination. Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Geetanjali Thapa, Manya Gupta. International Premiere.Lilting / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Hong Khaou) — The world of a Chinese mother mourning the untimely death of her son is suddenly disrupted by the presence of a stranger who doesn't speak her language. Lilting is a touching and intimate film about finding the things that bring us together. Cast: Ben Whishaw, Pei-Pei Cheng, Andrew Leung, Peter Bowles, Naomi Christie, Morven Christie. World Premiere.
Lock Charmer (El cerrajero) / Argentina (Director and screenwriter: Natalia Smirnoff) — Upon learning that his girlfriend is pregnant, 33-year-old locksmith Sebastian begins to have strange visions about his clients. With the help of an unlikely assistant, he sets out to use his newfound talent for his own good. Cast: Esteban Lamothe, Erica Rivas, Yosiria Huaripata. World Premiere.To Kill a Man / Chile, France (Director and screenwriter: Alejandro Fernandez Almendras) — When Jorge, a hardworking family man who's barely making ends meet, gets mugged by Kalule, a neighborhood delinquent, Jorge's son decides to confront the attacker, only to get himself shot. Even though Jorge's son nearly dies, Kalule's sentence is minimal, heightening the friction. Cast: Daniel Candia, Daniel Antivilo, Alejandra Yañez, Ariel Mateluna. World Premiere.Viktoria / Bulgaria, Romania (Director and screenwriter: Maya Vitkova) — Although determined not to have a child in Communist Bulgaria, Boryana gives birth to Viktoria, who despite being born with no umbilical cord, is proclaimed to be the baby of the decade. But political collapse and the hardships of the new time bind mother and daughter together. Cast: Irmena Chichikova, Daria Vitkova, Kalina Vitkova, Mariana Krumova, Dimo Dimov, Georgi Spassov. World Premiere.Wetlands / Germany (Director: David Wnendt, Screenwriters: Claus Falkenberg, David Wnendt, based on the novel by Charlotte Roche) — Meet Helen Memel. She likes to experiment with vegetables while masturbating and thinks that bodily hygiene is greatly overrated. She shocks those around her by speaking her mind in a most unladylike manner on topics that many people would not even dare consider. Cast: Carla Juri, Christoph Letkowski, Meret Becker, Axel Milberg, Marlen Kruse, Edgar Selge. North American Premiere.White Shadow / Italy, Germany, Tanzania (Director: Noaz Deshe, Screenwriters: Noaz Deshe, James Masson) — Alias is a young albino boy on the run. His mother has sent him away to find refuge in the city after witnessing his father's murder. Over time, the city becomes no different than the bush: wherever Alias travels, the same rules of survival apply. Cast: Hamisi Bazili, James Gayo, Glory Mbayuwayu, Salum Abdallah. International Premiere.
WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
20,000 Days On Earth / United Kingdom (Directors: Iain Forsyth &amp; Jane Pollard) — Drama and reality combine in a fictitious 24 hours in the life of musician and international culture icon Nick Cave. With startlingly frank insights and an intimate portrayal of the artistic process, this film examines what makes us who we are and celebrates the transformative power of the creative spirit. World Premiere.Concerning Violence / Sweden, U.S.A., Denmark, Finland (Director: Göran Hugo Olsson) — Concerning Violence is based on newly discovered, powerful archival material documenting the most daring moments in the struggle for liberation in the Third World, accompanied by classic text from The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon. World Premiere.The Green Prince / Germany, Israel, United Kingdom (Director: Nadav Schirman ) — This real-life thriller tells the story of one of Israel’s prized intelligence sources, recruited to spy on his own people for more than a decade. Focusing on the complex relationship with his handler, The Green Prince is a gripping account of terror, betrayal, and unthinkable choices, along with a friendship that defies all boundaries. World Premiere.
Happiness / France, Finland (Director: Thomas Balmès) — Peyangki is a dreamy and solitary eight-year-old monk living in Laya, a Bhutanese village perched high in the Himalayas. Soon the world will come to him: the village is about to be connected to electricity, and the first television will flicker on before Peyangki's eyes. North American Premiere.Love Child / South Korea, U.S.A. (Director: Valerie Veatch) — In Seoul in the Republic of Korea, a young couple stands accused of neglect when "Internet addiction" in an online fantasy game costs the life of their infant daughter. Love Child documents the 2010 trial and subsequent ruling that set a global precedent in a world where virtual is the new reality. World Premiere.Mr leos caraX / France (Director: Tessa Louise-Salomé) — Mr leos caraX plunges us into the poetic and visionary world of a mysterious, solitary filmmaker who was already a cult figure from his very first film. Punctuated by interviews and previously unseen footage, this documentary is most of all a fine-tuned exploration of the poetic and visionary world of Leos Carax, alias Mr. X. World Premiere.My Prairie Home / Canada (Director: Chelsea McMullan) — A poetic journey through landscapes both real and emotional, Chelsea McMullan’s documentary/musical offers an intimate portrait of transgender singer Rae Spoon, framed by stunning images of the Canadian prairies. McMullan’s imaginative visual interpretations of Spoon’s songs make this an unforgettable look at a unique Canadian artist. International Premiere.The Notorious Mr. Bout / U.S.A., Russia (Directors: Tony Gerber, Maxim Pozdorovkin) — Viktor Bout was a war profiteer, an entrepreneur, an aviation tycoon, an arms dealer, and—strangest of all—a documentary filmmaker. The Notorious Mr. Bout is the ultimate rags-to-riches-to-prison memoir, documented by the last man you'd expect to be holding the camera. World Premiere.Return to Homs / Syria, Germany (Director: Talal Derki) — Basset Sarout, the 19-year-old national football team goalkeeper, becomes a demonstration leader and singer, and then a fighter. Ossama, a 24-year-old renowned citizen cameraman, is critical, a pacifist, and ironic until he is detained by the regime's security forces. North American Premiere.SEPIDEH – Reaching for the Stars / Denmark (Director: Berit Madsen) — Sepideh wants to become an astronaut. As a young Iranian woman, she knows it’s dangerous to challenge traditions and expectations. Still, Sepideh holds on to her dream. She knows a tough battle is ahead, a battle that only seems possible to win once she seeks help from an unexpected someone. North American Premiere.We Come as Friends / France, Austria (Director: Hubert Sauper) — We Come as Friends views colonization as a human phenomenon through both explicit and metaphoric lenses without oversimplified accusations or political theorizing. Alarmingly, It is not a historical film since colonization and the slave trade still exist. World Premiere.Web Junkie / Israel (Directors: Shosh Shlam, Hilla Medalia) — China is the first country to label “Internet addiction” a clinical disorder. Web Junkie investigates a Beijing rehab center where Chinese teenagers are deprogrammed. World Premiere.
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redboxinstant.com
With The Hunger Games: Catching Fire being released today, there is no better time to check out all the amazing films this talented cast has previous appeared in, including the first Hunger Games . Luckily, it's now easier than ever to watch these movies instantly! With Redbox Instant by Verizon, members can enjoy all the instant streaming they can handle as well as four DVD Redbox kiosk rentals per month, and the best part? The first month is free. So, in honor of Catching Fire and Redbox, we've compiled a list of films available that all you Hunger Games fans must see.
Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen)Silver Linings Playbook (kiosk)– Check out the role that won Lawrence her first Oscar! In Silver Linings Playbook, Lawrence brings out her funny, kooky, and super talented side when she takes on the role of Tiffany, a young woman grieving the recent death of her husband. When Tiffany meets Pat (Bradley Cooper) they duo find ways to help each other overcome their mental, physical, and emotional ailments, typically to the delight of audiences as Cooper and Lawrence are hilariously sweet in this must see film.
Like Crazy (streaming)– Before Lawrence moved into the blockbuster arena, she started out with roles in indie films such as this critically acclaimed gem. In Like Crazy, Lawrence plays Sam, the breezy on and off girlfriend of Jacob (Anton Yelchin), an introspective man who is struggling to decided if he should stay in his long-distance relationship.
Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne)Empire State (kiosk)– Between filming The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, Hemsworth took on the role of Chris in Empire State. Based on a true story, the film follows Chris and his best friend Eddie (Michael Angarano) as they rob an armored truck, and the trouble they get in when a veteran NYPD detective (Dwayne Johnson) becomes suspicious of them.
The Expendables 2 (streaming)– In this big-budget Hollywood blockbuster, Hemsworth takes on the role of Billy the Kid, an ex-military sniper who joins Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and Jason Statham's characters on their quest for revenge.
Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark)Epic (kiosk)– In this delightful animated film, Hutcherson voices Nod, a rookie warrior who falls in love with the main character, M.K. (Amanda Seyfried) on her journey through the Bomba forest.
Fragments (streaming)– A unique ensamble drama, the film centers on a group of strangers who form a bond after they all survive a random diner shooting. A young Hutcherson takes on the role of Jimmy Jaspersen, a boy who is present during the shooting and becomes reclusive after seeing a man die.
Elizabeth Banks (Effie Trinket)The 40 Year Old Virgin (kiosk)– In this hit comedy, Steve Carell stars as Andy, a 40 year old man who has never had sex. When he meets Banks' character Beth, Andy tries to seduce her with hilarious and awkward outcomes.
What to Expect When You're Expecting (streaming)– This comedic film adaption of the best-selling pregnancy guide follows many different women who face the typical pitfalls the come with having babies. Banks plays Wendy, a woman who has tried to get pregnant for years, and when she finally does, absolutely hates all the painful, gross, and unexpected things that happen when you're nurturing a baby.
Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy)
Seven Psychopaths (at kiosk)– In this British comedy, Harrelson plays Charlie Costello a.k.a. Psychopath No. 3, who is basically the bad guy in a film about bad guys. However, this film is exceptional due to the wonderful cast and Harrelson's typical sarcastic wit.
Rampart (at kiosk)– In this drama, Harrelson takes on the role of David Brown, a dirty LAPD veteran who must face the consequences of his professionally inappropriate actions that have caused trouble for his department and his family.
Donald Sutherland (President Snow)Panic (streaming)– This eerie film focuses on Alex (William H. Macy), a hit-man who is slowly becoming uncomfortable with his line of work. As a result, he begins attending therapy where Alex discovers the his traumatic childhood relationship wit his father (Sutherland), a dominating and threatening man who steered Alex into the "family business."
Fierce People (streaming)– In this quirky drama, Sutherland plays an aging billionaire who introduces a young man into the life of the ultra-rich, and shows him just how steep a price it costs to live in the upper-crust world.
Stanley Tucci (Caesar Flickerman)Jack the Giant Slayer (kiosk)– Based on the English fairytales "Jack the Giant Killer" and "Jack and the Beanstalk," the film follows Jack, a young farmhand that must save the kingdom's Princess after he accidentally opens a portal to a world of giants. Tucci plays Lord Roderick, the King's advisor who has evil plans of taking over the kingdom.
Big Night (streaming)- This critically acclaimed film, which Tucci directed and starred in, follows the tale of two immigrant brothers' struggles on the New Jersey shore in the 1950s.
And, of course, you can see all these actors in The Hunger Games, which is available via instant streaming (oh, go ahead, watch it over and over, we won't judge). Plus, make sure you check out the thousands of other instant movies available with your free Redbox trial.
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American Idol is determined to shake it up this season, and that means the show we thought we could read like the backs of our hands is putting on a whole new face. First, Hollywood week was altered by separating the genders like a middle school dance and by having producers pick the group night groups like substitute teachers running a field trip. In that instance, the changes didn’t exactly work and we were left yawning through what is usually the best segment of the competition. Now, we’ve reached the Las Vegas portion of the show, where we usually run into some leftover group drama and start meeting the singers we’re really going to care about for the next few months. But this season, Idol is doing it differently. And as much as I hate change on this show, I must admit, the new slash and burn process really works.
Rather than letting the contestants put together performances in the comfy little bubble of friend groups and delivering their songs in front of only the judges, Season 12’s contestants are thrown into the fire of a live performance in a packed arena and made to sink or swim for their chance to make it to the big stage in Hollywood. It feels slightly more like a pageant, but when the performances started rolling out, it was clear that this process was the way to weed out the weaklings from the herd. Sudden death may have been conceived as a ratings ploy, but it works as a talent-sorting process.
Add to that the fact that Nicki Minaj is coming to the stage with her (mostly) natural hair, which I can only assume helped her to spew her brutally honest commentary all night. Whatever it is, it’s working. And if Nicki’s coif wasn’t enough, we get the return of Jimmy Iovine, who’s in the house as the tie-breaker, should the judges find themselves tied up at sudden death time. This isn’t the Idol we know, but it’s not half bad.
RELATED: 'American Idol': Is This Girl a Frontrunner Already?
For round one, we watch the first half of the top 20 girls perform and watch five of them go home (probably dramatically crying) at the end of the two hours. It’s simple, but it’s effective and largely brutal.
First up is Jenny Beth Willis with “Heaven, Heartache, and The Power of Love” by Trisha Yearwood. She’s got a solid, old fashioned country voice, but in her black and pink saloon dress and slouchy cowboy boots, she looks like what Avril Lavigne would dress as if she was going as a country star for Halloween. And if her performance was amazing, it wouldn’t matter what she was wearing at this stage in the game, but the judges all agree that something was missing from her lackluster performance. She was simply boring. There were no dynamics for a song that packs a lot of energy. The judges were in agreement, though Mariah took it upon herself to tell the girl, “That last note hit it out of the park, you gotta work on the rest of it.” See, that’s a big problem, when “the rest of it” is two and a half minutes of eye-rolling performance time.
Miss Camp Mariah, Tenna Torres, takes up the task of going second with “Soulmate” by Natasha Bedingfield. Tenna’s vocals have never been what I would call perfect during this competition. She’s a little shrill here and there, but what’s important to cull from this performance is that whether or not her vocals are spot on, she commands our attention on stage. Technically, she’s alright, but as a whole package she turns a relatively sleepy song and absolutely ropes us in in a way that the original singer never did. The judges naturally love the performance (Nicki, is however, incensed by Tenna’s far-too mature hairdo), and Randy goes so far as to burn the poor little country singer who started the show saying, “THIS is the start of the night.” Ya burned, little Jenny.
The hits keep coming with Adriana Latonio, the first semi-finalist from Alaska (I find this hard to believe, but I’ll take Ryan Seacrest’s word for it). She sings an Aretha Franklin song because even though she’s 17, she’s ballsy as hell. And despite my momentary distraction with her tomato red junior prom dress, she kills “Ain’t No Way,” hitting the most difficult notes like she’s been doing it for years. Unfortunately, the way the camera hugged Tenna and helped TV viewers understand the intimate nature of her performance, the camera worked against Adriana, so when the judges were praising her for coming so close to their fortress of solitude during her performance and the way it made the performance so personal, we couldn’t really keep up. Luckily, at this stage, it’s the judges who decide to keep singers on the show, so that camera work isn’t a problem just yet.
RELATED: 'American Idol Recap: Girls Light Up Hollywood Week
The unlucky lady following the phenomenon from Anchorage, Alaska is 26-year-old Brandy Hotard, who’s seen lots of singers on TV and totally knows how they act on stage. She’s perfected the art of pantomiming the pop star. But when she sings “Anymore” by Travis Tritt, she’s sweet, but it’s completely empty. She’s doing all the motions she thinks she has to do as a “famous” singer, but as every judge but Mariah points out, the girl is smiling while singing about devastation (something the resourceful young woman says can be attributed to the fact that she’d never beg a man to take her back the way the song’s lyrics do, which makes us wonder why the hell you chose the song, pretty girl). It’s simply not genuine, and it’s not something we want to watch for the next few weeks. Luckily, Keith and Nicki get really honest, Nicki even straight up tells the girl this was a pageant performance and they’re looking for an artist. For some reason Mariah finds a reason to praise her (we’re guessing it’s pity), but this girl’s fate is sealed.
And someone who walked into the room full of promise was young Shuba Vedula. The judges love her, something I never really understood, but this is the time for those colors to really show. Unfortunately, she showed all the wrong ones. She starts out sitting a piano, which let’s face it, makes her automatically more interesting. But then, she’s singing a slow version of a Lady Gaga song, which makes her automatically less interesting. And she ruins any little bit she had going for her when she hops up from the piano to sing a karaoke queen version of the song, prance-hopping around the stage like my dog the first time he goes outside and there is snow on the ground. It was disjointed, she was all over the place. Underneath the mess, she’s got a good voice, but it’s not enough. It’s simply not the performance of someone who’s ready to be a star, and Nicki agrees, giving Shuba the harsh criticism that her comical performance is like “a mashup of Christina Aguilera and the Gangnam Style guy.” Randy defends her, but only to ease the pain of Nicki’s harsh, personal criticism. But the girl does not know how to perform. She plopped a run on every note, her stage presence was off-putting and confusing. No matter how nice Mariah was at the end, this girl is not making it through.
Kamaria Ousley is a know-it-all. She’s been in the music business “for years,” and she once sang background for the group that was relevant for five minutes, Diddy Dirty Money. It’s a wonder then that her performance of “Mr. Know It All” by Kelly Clarkson was the worst of the night. The song runs her, and she’s off-key the entire time. Plus, the song is a very powerful pop song. People know it, they want to sing along, but there was nothing about this performance that would evoke that in a human being. It was awful. Randy couldn’t even muster some weird metaphor about a lost fish. It was that bad.
The least fussy performance of the evening also happens to be one of the best. Kree Harrison, who you may remember told a story about losing both of her parents years apart. Singing “Up To The Mountain” by Patty Griffin, Kree is dressed in simple clothes, delivering an effortless, emotionally-connected performance. She’s dynamic and her voice is incredible. That’s all there is to it. After giving her a standing ovation, Keith and Nicki sing her praises, and all of the judges love the fact that she gives a performance that’s organic as it is beautiful.
Angela Miller returns after blowing everyone away with her original song during Hollywood week. This time, she’s not as mind-blowing with “Nobody’s Perfect” by Jessie J, but she’s still pretty perfect. The judges love her, but they’re all stuck on last week, every single one of them doling out praise for a performance she gave back in December when Hollywood week was taped, but if it means she sticks around, that’s all that matters, even if it means we have to endure more of Mariah’s descriptions akin to “You had me clothed in goosebumps and bathed in tears.” (My theory is that as the last seat on the panel, Mariah sits there formulating all the ways in which she can one-up Nicki’s commentary but ultimately ruins it with her penchant for hyperbole. Nothing beats a good burn.)
RELATED: 'American Idol' Recap: Boring Boys in Hollywood
The girl with only one name, Isabelle, proves that she doesn’t belong in the Beyonce/Madonna one-name artist category. (And even if she did, Isabelle is not the name to do it with.) Like seven thousand Idol contestants before her, she sings “God Blessed the Child” with a cheesy, Vegasy arrangement. It sounds like she’s affecting her own voice instead of just singing with beauty and ease. In truth, she’s good. She’s got crazy pipes. But thankfully, Randy agrees with me. The only redeemable quality about this performance is the fact that the girl can sing, but it’s a matter of taste, and I’m not prepared to listen to this girl wade her way through bad taste for six weeks until Jimmy Iovine finally drills it into her skull that nobody wants to hear a Vegas lounge act. What’s more perplexing is that she says she saw Kree Harrison and her heart and wanted to be like her. First of all, DON’T BE LIKE ANOTHER CONTESTANT, BB GRL. Second of all, it seems you missed the point of Kree’s performance, ladybug.
Finally, washing away the awkwardness of Isabelle’s performance, returning contestant Amber Holcomb got more than just a makeover between last year and this year. The girl learned to perform. She sings “My Funny Valentine” with a somewhat dated smooth jazz arrangement, but her vocals are so strong that it works. It’s simple, without flash or pomp. We just get to witness an incredible voice and a compelling performance with an easy connection. The girl is simply incredible, even Mariah gives her a standing O, and Mariah doesn’t do that.
Nicki is concerned that the viewers at home can’t grasp how wonderful it was in person, and if that’s so, I can’t imagine how incredible the performance actually was because it definitely came through the TV, in spades. But if there’s anything that signals just how powerful this girl’s singing was, it was Mariah’s line of commentary: “Congratulations on just your talent.” Amber is someone who’s going to be important this year.
With all the performances complete, the judges pop out of the floor in director chairs to shine a spotlight on each girl before they tell her their fate. And after a few fakeouts, they chose to keep Tenna Torres, Kree Harrison, Angela Miller, Amber Holcomb, and Adriana Latonio. Of course, this is Idol so the cuts were somewhat dramatic, ranging from splitting up best friends Adriana and Shuba to watching Isabelle storm off stage before Keith is even done telling her that he fought for her because she’s got a great voice. In the end, the five girls who were cut were Jenny Beth Willis, Brandy Hotard, Isabelle, Kamaria Ousley, and Shuba Vedula.
Thursday night we’ll watch 10 of the guys face the same fate, though with the talent pool on the girls’ side being so much richer this year, something tells me the guys’ night will be a little less exciting. Then again, there are a few “exciting” bits from this first Vegas round that I never want to see again, so perhaps it’s for the best.
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[Photo Credit: Michael Becker/Fox]
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There's an allure to imperfection. With his latest drama Lawless director John Hillcoat taps directly into the side of human nature that draws us to it. Hillcoat finds it in Prohibition history a time when the regulations of alcohol consumption were subverted by most of the population; He finds it in the rural landscapes of Virginia: dingy raw and mesmerizing. And most importantly he finds it in his main character Jack Bondurant (Shia LaBeouf) the scrappy third brother of a moonshining family who is desperate to prove his worth. Jack forcefully injects himself into the family business only to discover there's an underbelly to the underbelly. Lawless is a beautiful film that's violent as hell striking in a way only unfiltered Americana could be.
Acting as the driver for his two outlaw brothers Forrest (Tom Hardy) and Howard (Jason Clarke) isn't enough for Jack. He's enticed by the power of the gangster figure and entranced by what moonshine money can buy. So like any fledgling entrepreneur Jack takes matters into his own hands. Recruiting crippled family friend/distillery mastermind Cricket (Dane DeHaan) the young whippersnapper sets out to brew his own batch sell it to top dog Floyd Banner and make the family rich. The plan works — but it puts the Bondurant boys in over their heads with a new threat: the corrupt law enforcers of Chicago.
Unlike many stories of crime life Lawless isn't about escalation. The movie drifts back and forth leisurely popping in moments like the beats of a great TV episode. One second the Bondurants could be talking shop with their female shopkeep Maggie Beauford (Jessica Chastain). The next Forrest is beating the bloody pulp out of a cop blackmailing their operation. The plot isn't thick; Hillcoat and screenwriter Nick Cave preferring to bask in the landscapes the quiet moments the haunting terror that comes with a life on the other side of the tracks. A feature film doesn't offer enough time for Lawless to build — it recalls cinema-level TV currently playing on outlets like HBO and AMC that have truly spoiled us — but what the duo accomplish is engrossing.
Accompanying the glowing visuals and Cave's knockout workout on the music side (a toe-tapping mix of spirituals bluegrass and the writer/musician's spine-tingling violin) are muted performances from some of Hollywood's rising stars. Despite LaBeouf's off-screen antics he lights up Lawless and nails the in-deep whippersnapper. His playful relationship with a local religious girl (Mia Wasikowska) solidifies him as a leading man but like everything in the movie you want more. Tom Hardy is one of the few performers who can "uurrr" and "mmmnerm" his way through a scene and come out on top. His greatest sparring partner isn't a hulking thug but Chastain who brings out the heart of the impenetrable beast. The real gem of Lawless is Guy Pearce as the Bondurant trio's biggest threat. Shaved eyebrows pristine city clothes and a temper like a rabid wolverine Pearce's Charlie Rakes is the most frightening villain of 2012. He viciously chews up every moment he's on screen. That's even before he starts drawing blood.
Lawless is the perfect movie for the late August haze — not quite the Oscary prestige picture or the summertime shoot-'em-up. It's drama that has its moonshine and swigs it too. Just don't drink too much.
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Guests Alec Baldwin, Jane Fonda, Jessica Chastain and Eva Longoria also joined the event's host, The Artist star Berenice Bejo, at the Palais for the opening night.
The members of the Cannes Film Festival jury, headed up by Italian filmmaker Nanni Moretti and including judges Diane Kruger, Jean Paul Gaultier, Ewan McGregor and Alexander Payne, took the stage at the premiere as Moretti gave a warm welcome to all of the festival attendees.
Gossip singer Beth Ditto provided the music by performing a cover of Sir Elton John's Candle in the Wind as a montage of photos of this year's (12) poster girl Marilyn Monroe were shown on the big screen.
Anderson then joined the cast of Moonrise Kingdom to introduce the movie and officially launch the 65th annual film gala.
The romantic comedy is the first of 22 titles in competition for the coveted Palme d'Or prize to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

Stephen Frears' films haven't all been very commercially successful, but they've let him bring his unique outlook on life to the masses. That's attracted many of entertainment's elite to his projects, from Albert Finney to Tim Roth to Glenn Close to Helen Mirren. He's wrangled an unlikely but interesting trio for his next picture called Lay The Favorite, which is based on the life of cocktail-waitress-turned-professional-gambler Beth Raymer. She was one of the finest risk-takers in the world after she learned to manipulate the sportsbook system of Las Vegas with a group of geeky geezers. After she falls in love, she begins to re-evalute her life choices and the business she's in.
The film already has a cool cast, with Rebecca Hall portraying Raymer, Bruce Willis playing, presumably, one of the "geeky fiftyish men" as Variety puts it (I'm already conjuring images of Death Becomes Her) and Catherine Zeta-Jones playing his wife. Justin Timberlake may also have a part, but today's big update is that Joshua Jackson has been officially booked for a role. He could be filling in for Timberlake, but I cannot confirm that at this time. I'd assume that Jackson/Timberlake will be the love interest for Hall's Raymer and if that's the case I'm sure she'd rather work with Justin, but Josh should do just fine.
When I first read the premise for the project, Curtis Hanson's Lucky You came to mind because it similarly centered on a pro-poker player trying to balance his love-life and battle his personal problems. That film didn't fare too well, though probably because it had the heaviest competition any movie could face (it was released on May 4th, 2007 - against Spider-Man 3). However, gambling films, including 21, Rounders and The Color of Money have generally been well-received and this one has an fresh dynamic as it will focus on a female protagonist. And Hall is long-overdue for a starring role after being hidden behind Scarlett Johansson twice in The Prestige and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Lay The Favorite could be a sweet surprise if balanced properly; Frears should be up to the task.
Source: Variety

I like these odds. (That's a cheap shot, but I'm okay with it if you are.) Bruce Willis has already signed to star in Lay the Favorite, Take the Dog, a sports-gambling movie about Dink, a downward drifting professional gambler, and hot on his heels are two other big names. Both Justin Timberlake and Catherine Zeta-Jones are being courted to take a few supporting roles in the film based on Beth Raymer's memoirs, who served as Dink's assistant when she first moved to Las Vegas. The film comes to us from Stephen Frears and is supposed to have a similar tone to his adaptation of High Fidelity.
Focus Features is aiming to nab Timberlake for the role of Rosie, a bookmaker from Long Island who apprenticed Raymer (who is set to be played by the lovely Rebecca Hall) and Zeta-Jones is eying a part as Dink's wife, Tulip. It's no wonder Focus is rushing this process forward, filming is set to begin in April. It's quite an interesting bunch of actors that are being clumped together here, but I think it will make for an interesting, comical look at the underbelly of the underbelly (so to speak) of the gambling world.
Source: NY Mag